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A Dagger and A Dragonfly

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Welcome to the 3-rd book in the Paranormal Obsessions series. Dark secrets, betrayal, supernatural mafia and a hidden world existing alongside ours - all await you in "A Dagger and A Dragonfly".When Killian ends up on Libby’s doorsteps, bloody and unconscious, she's sorely tempted to stab him through his heart. Instead she patches him up, like her nurse duty demands.
After 13 years, she doesn't expect to see him again and wants nothing to do with the life he represents. The supernatural mafia life she left behind.
But when new enemies (and old) reappear and threaten them both, she's forced to work with Killian. The man she swore to hate til he was six feet under - or she was.
What's worse?
She's forced to confront her past... and the feelings she buried deep in her heart.

Libby

He betrayed me.
The man I trusted most became the one person I swore I'd never forgive.
Now I'm forced to work beside him, to rely on the very person who shattered my heart and stomped on the pieces.
Every sharp word, every stolen glance, every moment of weakness reminds me I should hate him.
And yet, I still find myself wanting to know the truth. Even if I'm tempted to put a blade through his black, lying heart first.

Killian

Libby and I have never agreed on anything.
She's fire. I'm ice. She fights with her heart. I survive by hiding mine. We're incompatible in every way.
And yet, I'm drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
Always have been. Even before everything fell apart. Even now, when she looks at me like I'm the villain in her story.
Maybe I deserve her anger. She can believe the worst of me all she wants, but I won't let her come to harm.
Not again.
Not when I failed her the first time. Not when she's the one person I've never been able to walk away from.



Attraction despite hatredBad boy with a soft heartBetrayalBroken hero and heroineCompetent MMC + FMCConflicted FMC and MMCDark romanceEnemies to lovers / Lovers to EnemiesEmotional scarsDual POVDuty vs desireFae and other supernatural creaturesForced proximityForbidden romanceFound familyFated connectionFemale rageGrumpy / sunshineGothic romance elementsGuarded heroineGrudging allianceHe saves her, she saves himImpossible choicesInexperienced with loveIntense chemistryLongingLGBTQ+ awakening (Demi main character)Mafia romanceMagic and magical fae, changelings, banshee, shifters and moreMorally grey MMC and FMCMutual obsessionMysteryOpposites attractParanormal romanceProtective obsessionPast traumaPossessive heroRedemptionReluctant alliesRevengeRomeo and Juliet vibesRunaway pastSecond chanceShe falls first, He falls harderSlow burnStar-crossed loversStrong heroineSuspense romanceSecrets and liesTouch her and dieTrust issuesImportant This is a Dark Spicy Romance, so please check the Trigger Warnings on the first pages of the book and/or on my website. Among others the book contains topics like SA by several perpetrators (not by the MMC), termination of unwanted pregnancy, trauma, PTSD and depression. Please read safely.

470 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2026

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Lina C. Eleste

8 books35 followers

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for WINTER G..
Author 1 book8 followers
October 2, 2026
Absolutely entertaining

This was a slowest burn filled with lots of trauma, not for me but for our MCs (poor killian and libby). Mostly, I read enemies to lovers but thus one felt like lovers to enemies. The best part was author didn't hesitate to touch the socially sensitive topics. The characters felt like they were talking to me and the lovestory between a Banshee and a Fae was something new, especially when it comes with vibrating piercings and birthcontrol tattos.
Warning: Misunderstanding trope.
Friendly advise: please carry tissues.
For your tears! Geez what are you thinking.
Profile Image for June Yang.
Author 2 books16 followers
October 10, 2026
What an incredible love story.

Killian is a changeling—a fae without the magic—adopted into the Dugan family from a young age and who subsequently falls for his step-sister and childhood playmate Libby Dugan. She stands up for him and pulls him out of his withdrawn shell, and he learns to trust her. Killian and Libby give in to each other in an act of passion the year she turned eighteen, however, something terrible happens to her right after their first act of love and intimacy that immediately resulted in her rejection of him in her life, leading to a long period of sustained estrangement and anger.
This story is honest and dark. Both protagonists experience terrible and life-altering human trauma in their own individual lives before coming back together again. Here’s a call out to readers who might not want to be surprised by the descriptions of trauma—please read the content warnings before diving in.
Libby’s character is complex, fallible and angry, while laboring against the darkness and loss of control within that was created by the traumatic experience that had happened to her in her youth. Eleste gives enough space for the character to feel, stretch and breathe even as the story drives forward. I can tell how much love and care Eleste has poured into Libby’s growth, and as a result the character comes out with a strong foundation and story arc. Additionally, I also love Libby’s full name—Libellula, which is a type of dragonfly, hence the title of this book.

This book is for readers who crave a good love story, one filled with tension, conflict, passion and second chances. This is a heart-twisting romance between two soulmates fated to be with each other, while fate has other plans for them. You’ll be rooting for them the whole time.

Additional info in case you need it:
Genre: Paranormal Romantasy
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Fated Mates; Touch Her and Die; Second-Chance Romance, Fae Romance
Part of a universe: YES, read her other books based on her other characters from the same universe
Profile Image for Bonnie.
245 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 23, 2026
***I received a complimentary advanced review copy and am leaving a voluntary review***

This is the third book in the "Paranormal Obsession" series and you have to at least have read the second book "A Bee and a Shadow" to fully understand what happens in this book.
There are some very dark and traumatic experiences that are mentioned multiple times, so please check the TWs before you start.

OMG, talk about a devastating and cruel case of misunderstanding and unintentional hurt spanning YEARS! This absolutely gutted me and I felt sooooooooo bad for the MMC Killian. Yes, the FMC Libby was absolutely entitled to her feelings and reactions, but what an unnecessary waste of precious time and a build-up of so many angry, negative feelings.

Both MCs have lived through unspeakable trauma, leading to their paths in life being filled with pitfalls, stones, and wrong turns.

But the level of persistence Killian displays is mind-blowing. His determination and endless patience are just incredible and downright swoon-worthy.

Libby and Killian seem to be polar opposites in their behavior, but beneath the surface they are both spirited, ruthless when necessary, protective of that which they claim as theirs, and possessive. So, in that and their physical and emotional attraction, they are actually a perfect match.
The bedroom scenes were very hot 🔥

And there were some pretty epic, and rather gory battles and many a character met quite the satisfying ending 😉

I liked that there was a lot of different folklore mixed together to create this world of humans and supernaturals. The glossary included in the book is very helpful.

117 reviews3 followers
October 1, 2026
Killian & Libby’s story is not for the faint-hearted. Please check your trigger warning before reading as there are multiple instances where traumatic events are referenced though not explicitly in detail on page. Libby spends nearly half of her life trying to move on after Killian completely broke her heart (multiple times) when they were young. As far as she’s concerned, he literally signed her life away and she faced unfathomable, cruel repercussions from it. Trying to heal without being able to take her revenge, also due to Killian, has been difficult to say the least. Killian has always loved Libby, making impossible choices under duress and trying to do the best by her that he could, but he doesn’t know what his choices cost Libby until thirteen years later… Forced to be in close proximity and spend increasing amounts of time together, the old feelings from their youth start pulling them back together, but with their history, there are so many hurdles to face, so many doubts and insecurities to address, and plenty of decisions that could have been made differently. In a pivotal battle with unusual supernatural forces, Libby and Killian are forced to make decisions that will alter them forever and require insurmountable sacrifices.

Favorite Quotes:
“I would burn the world down for her and happily dance in the ashes, if it meant keeping her safe and alive.”
“I’ll wait for you for a thousand years, a thousand lifetimes, if that’s what it takes.”
“For Killian I will fight even Death itself.”
“Two broken pieces, finally whole. We are one. Like we were always meant to be.”
Profile Image for Nikolett Ungor.
164 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 17, 2026
I got an early version of this wonderful book to beta read and share my thoughts abouts it and I am so happy I can finally publicly share my review!

Star rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Darkness/Bloodiness: 🖤🖤 🩸 🩸

Please check official trigger warnings to make sure the book is for you. The book is for mature audience only!

I didn't think it's possible after book two but I think I love A Dagger and A Dragonfly the most from the series. Packed with action, suspense, healing and more action this book kept me on my toes until the end.

Libby is such a wonderful and funny character. She is morally grey but keeps true to her values and priorities as a nurse. Killian on the other hand is darker grey, deep in the supernatural maffia trying to keep his distance. Their background is painful, they take the healing slow. There is no shortcut to happiness, so buckle up for a long ride.

Oh yeah, did I mention that they are hunted? Yupp, doesn't help speeding up their romance at all, but makes some very steamy fight scenes!

I love the development of the writing and all the little background details that have been building since book one. These continue and keep me hooked to see whose life is next. That said Anna is still the worst, but oh my. Since book two my view definitely shifted slightly. I loved the drama in book two, but it gets such a different light here, I seriously can't wait for that book as well!

Lina C. Eleste is really becoming a great indie author and I couldn't be happier to have found this series, it's such an underappreciated gem.
Profile Image for Suzanne Quinlan - Spicy Romance Author.
24 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2026
Killian is ice. Libby is fire. Neither one of these stubborn asses wants to tell the other how they actually feel.
Naturally, I loved them.

A Dagger & A Dragonfly gave me so much longing. The kind where you want to reach into the book, grab them both, and say, “Would you two please just FLUFF and get it over with?”

Killian is a Fae who can be cold as hell, but with Libby, forget it. He tries to hide it, but he’s soft for her, protective of her, and very much in the “I would torch the earth for this woman” category of men.

Libby, meanwhile, has her own special powers with plenty of fire of her own, so she isn’t exactly making things easy for him either.

There’s betrayal, old hurt, enemies to lovers, second chances, and enough chemistry between these two to make all that refusing-to-communicate worth the aggravation.

This is my third book by Lina C. Eleste in the Paranormal Obsessions series, and I think Killian and Libby might have frustrated me and gotten to me the most. I mean that as a compliment.

JUST TELL EACH OTHER ALREADY.
But then I wouldn’t have gotten all that longing, would I?

Grab the entire series. Seriously. You’ll thank me.
Profile Image for Ofcorserintobooks .
100 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2026
A Dagger and a Dragonfly was definitely a mixed bag for me. There were things I really enjoyed, but also a few things that kept me from completely loving it.

I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers-to-enemies, slow burn, and supernatural plots, so this book had a lot going for it. I thought Libby and Killian’s relationship was well developed, and I always understood what they were feeling and thinking. And Libby? 👏 I LOVED her fierceness and watching her get her revenge. She was absolutely not going to let anyone walk all over her!

My biggest issue was that a couple of the major plot points that had been built up and discussed for basically the entire book were suddenly resolved… and that was it. No real explanation, no big moment, just welp, problem solved—moving on! After spending so much time building them up, I definitely wanted more.

Overall, I enjoyed Libby & Killian’s story, but those rushed resolutions kept this from being a love-it-for-me read. Still, I hope it finds the right audience because there were definitely parts I really enjoyed! ❤️
Profile Image for Diana Tor..
Author 10 books35 followers
October 14, 2026
This book did things to me!!
I can't explain all of it due to personal reasons but most importantly it reminded me of a huge fact: We MUST let our feelings surface sometimes before it's too late.
I needed that because just like Libby (FMC) I have a hard time to let it out and let go.

And oh, let me tell you about Killian! (MMC)
Exactly that type of guy that makes you want to throw things at him BUT you might think twice because he's ridiculously handsome and just a pathetic lover in a painfully endearing way.
His back story made me think of those men who are hurt daily but never complain. And yes, guys like this still exist out there and maybe, if we know one of them, we need to give them a hug just to tell them they matter.

There were moments I had to put this book away and give myself some time, but I absolutely loved the story and characters!
Oh, and all the Easter eggs I could find! Like tiny hints to "Lord of the rings" or "Beauty and the beast". Those are my favorites!

Highly recommended! Just pick this book and read it!
Profile Image for Elisabete (Betty) Silva.
70 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 11, 2026
ARC Review

Libby and Killian carry painful histories, and I really appreciated that their healing isn’t rushed. There are no instant fixes or shortcuts to happiness here.

The little background details that have been quietly building since book one are starting to come together, and I LOVE noticing those connections. It makes the world feel so much more thought-out and rewarding as the series continues.

And now I have ONE very important question… are we getting a fourth book?! 👀 Because after everything in this series, I am absolutely not ready to say goodbye to this world yet. There are still stories I need, questions I need answered, and characters I’m not prepared to leave behind!

Morally grey characters, darker shades of grey, supernatural mafia, painful pasts, slow healing, and a story that keeps building on everything that came before… absolutely sign me up. 🖤✨

Betty - The Ink Addicts Reads (Instagram & YouTube)
Profile Image for Erin E. .
331 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 16, 2026
4.5
Oh my gosh! What a wonderful continuation of this series. I love how the stories have intertwined yet still are all standalone. There's enough context however if you've read the previous you can easily piece timelines and storylines together. 🖤

I think the characters in this are absolutely wonderful. Such a traumatic past. This is a slow burn with a slow healing 🖤 I truly loved both Libby and Killian and was rooting for both of them early on. The build up and execution was on point!

The supernatural Mafia element reeled me in quickly. It was refreshing and new. (At least for me) There was no easy path taken here. It's a long journey filled with heartache, strength, courage, and love. Past trauma that doesn't heal but eventually overcomes. Truths shown after years of passing.

Well done 👏 I really loved this one 🫶

✔️ Lovers to enemies
✔️fae channeling MMC
✔️Banshee FMC
✔️Urban Romantasy
✔️Taboo
✔️Forced proximity
Profile Image for Timea Rogina.
28 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 1, 2026
I started with book two of this series and went back and read book one and I’m glad I had both those for this one. They are interconnected standalones but having the other knowledge helped a lot so I do recommend reading them in order. This book gave me the feels though! I went through every single emotion possible with this one and wouldn’t have it any other way. The yearning and misunderstanding and time wasted was intense and frustrating and so good. And ma’am at one point we were about to have words but everything worked out so we’re good now, no hard feelings until the next installment. I was honored to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews